U.S. Trade Representative Presses EU on Tariffs and Regulations, Urges Implementation of Trade Agreement

"EU Blocking U.S. Exports with Non-Tariff Barriers"

Jamison Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR), has expressed strong dissatisfaction, stating that the European Union (EU) is not properly implementing the tariff reductions and regulatory easing promised in its trade agreement with the United States.

Jamison Greer, United States Trade Representative (USTR). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

In an interview with the Financial Times (FT) on the 16th (local time), Greer pointed out that even though U.S. President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a trade agreement in Turnberry, Scotland last July, EU tariffs remain high.

Greer said, "There have always been conflicts over trade issues," adding, "The EU continues to block U.S. exports with numerous regulations and non-tariff barriers, thereby weakening market access, while we have continued to open up to them very broadly. This is extremely unbalanced."

A senior U.S. official also commented, "The EU is moving quite slowly on all fronts," and added, "President Trump has changed his attitude toward Europe (positively) over the past six months. I hope Europe does not miss the opportunity to take advantage of this new approach by the United States."

The EU had promised to lower tariffs on U.S. manufactured goods, seafood, pork, and certain agricultural products, but implementation has been delayed as the European Parliament has yet to approve the agreement. According to EU officials, approval by the European Parliament is expected after February 2026. In particular, regarding steel and aluminum tariffs, a revised proposal will be put to a vote to delay tariff reductions on these items until the United States lowers its current 50% tariffs.

The United States has reduced tariffs on European automobiles and most other products to as low as 15%, but this is still considered high compared to January of this year, when President Trump took office.

Greer is scheduled to visit Europe later this month to meet with Maros Sefcovic, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, to press for implementation of the agreement. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick also plans to visit Brussels on the 24th to meet with Commissioner Sefcovic and other EU trade ministers. According to a European official, the United States is preparing a proposal consisting of five stages, which includes certain regulatory adjustments, reductions in steel tariffs, and provisions for duty-free wine and spirits.